Real Madrid capped a turbulent week on Saturday with a much-needed 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Levante, thanks to second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio, after being met with boos from a restless Bernabeu crowd before the breakthrough arrived.
The victory ended Real Madrid’s two-match losing streak and provided a brief respite after a tough week. Things looked flat in the first half, still bearing the scars of the 3-2 Spanish Super Cup defeat to rivals Barcelona, followed by the departure of manager Xabi Alonso the next day and a shock 3-2 exit in the Copa del Rey to Albacete in the second division on Wednesday.
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Boos greeted the players at kick-off, with sections of the crowd also directing chants at club president Florentino Perez. Real finally eased the tension when Dela tripped Mbappe in the penalty area, and the French forward converted the penalty in the 58th minute to extend their league lead to 19 goals.
Seven minutes later, Madrid doubled their lead through centre-back Asencio, who rose to meet Arda Guler’s corner with a powerful header to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute, giving new coach Alvaro Arbeloa a crucial buffer and settling the mood in the stadium.
The victory leaves Madrid second in La Liga with 48 points from twenty games, one behind leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand and visit Real Sociedad on Sunday. Levante is 19th with 14 points.
Published on January 17, 2026
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